Xiang Residence

Xiang Residence

The Xiang Residence is now located at the intersection of West Minzhu Road and Sanmin Road in Cicheng Town. It has been designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by Jiangbei District, Ningbo City. Originally built by descendants of Xiang Minzhong, who served as Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat under Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the residence features, according to the pillars of the east wing room of the "Danai Hall" on Sanmin Road, wooden gates on Minzhu Road that are the Enrong Archway of Xiang Tengjiao, with the back being the Winter Official Archway of Zhao Shijian from the Ming Dynasty. The main structures include the gate, the main hall, and the east and west wing rooms, all four of which were also built during the Ming Dynasty. The official positions represented indicate that only the Winter Official was exclusive to the Ming Hongzhi era. The Enrong Archway was likely built before the Hongzhi period. The “Jinshi Mansion” (Scholar’s Residence) plaque above the entrance hall is believed to be from the Ming Dynasty, as no members of the Xiang family obtained the jinshi degree in the Qing Dynasty. The stone, brick, and wood carvings throughout the residence, in both theme and style, are characteristic of the Ming Dynasty and represent a well-preserved example of Ming-era residential architecture in Cicheng. Therefore, the Xiang Residence, along with the Tang, Song, and Ming stone terraces of the "Danai Hall," forms an integrated ensemble representing three historical periods, effectively belonging to the same protected heritage site.

At that time, Minzhong was called the “Talent of Great Endurance,” hence Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty built the Danai Hall in honor of his birth mother. The residence was known as the “Family of the Imperial Uncle.” He also buried his mother on Shang’ao Zhao Family land, rebuilt the tomb of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, and granted the family the Zhao surname. A Tianren Pavilion was constructed in front of Pujue Temple each year to welcome the imperial procession. The east wing building of the Danai Hall was the birth mother’s residence from the Tang Dynasty. On the right side of the Winter Official Archway, there is also a preserved Tang Dynasty stone archway belonging to the Ministry of Works. In fact, the position of Winter Official was a Song Dynasty official rank, possibly established by the Xiang family. In the early Ming Dynasty, the Xiang family built the Enrong Archway and the Xiang Residence. By the Hongzhi period, the scholar Zhao Lian elevated the high-standard Winter Official title to “Zhao Lian.” During the Qianlong era, Xiang Hengsheng, honoring his ancestor Xiang Tengjiao, changed the Enrong Archway to read “Imperial Decree Bestowed Upon Three Generations.” The changes in stone carving art styles, as well as the visible chisel marks where the original stone plaques were lost and replaced with new ones adhered with lime, all reveal traces of historical repurposing.